An instructional student-centered approach which uses carefully constructed clinical problems as a context for students to: define their learning needs , conduct self-directed enquiry , integrate theory and practice , and apply knowledge and skills to develop a solution to a defined problem.

9.
Integrated systems-based Traditional discipline-based Educational strategy - The problem comes first without advance readings, lectures, or preparation. - The problem serves as a stimulus for the need to know. - Based on their own prior knowledge and the identified gaps in that knowledge, students determine the learning issues within their own group. They then identify and use a variety of learning resources to study these issues and return to the group to discuss and share what they have learned. - The focus is on preparatory learning prior to exposure to the problem. - The staff set the problems ( case history problems in a primarily lecture- based format ), and students attempt to resolve them using previously taught curricular content. Main characteristics PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING PROBLEM SOLVING

10.
The student decides what he/she needs to learn Teacher Who is responsible for directing the learning activities Learning becomes dependent upon the self-directed efforts of the small group. This method creates a more active, student-centered learning environment Passive, teacher-centered Learning environment Tutor/Facilitator Content expert Role of the teacher PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING PROBLEM SOLVING

13.
This traditional approach has been criticised for a number of reasons:

Many existing curricula fail to meet the needs of current and future doctors

It creates an artificial divide between the basic and clinical sciences

Time is wasted in acquiring knowledge that is subsequently forgotten or found to be irrelevant (The acquisition and retention of information that has no apparent relevance can be boring and even demoralising for students)

The educational objectives of PBL address many of the perceived problems in traditional medical curricula

Its possible advantages over traditional approaches include: its greater relevance to the practice of medicine , its ability to promote retention and application of knowledge , and its encouragement of self-directed life-long learning

28.
A PBL-based curriculum is typically organized into a number of units based on body systems. Each unit is based on a number of PBL Cases (case=hypothetical patient whose problem requires analysis and resolution).

1. Case presentation: The tutor provides the group with some introductory clinical information about a hypothetical patient.

Mary Smith, a 28 -year-old office worker and part-time swimming instructor , comes to see her GP because of pain in her chest and shortness of breath . This has been a recurring problem in recent months and seems to be gradually worse . On the previous evening, while participating in a swimming gala, she became so short of breath that she found it difficult to walk.

Further discussion with her GP reveals that Ms Smith’s chest pain and shortness of breath come on following exercise , particularly in a cold environment. When she becomes particularly short of breath, she starts to wheeze . She sometimes has a dry cough and has never had haemoptysis . There is no recent history of physical trauma and no personal or family history of heart disease . She had eczema in childhood but has never had asthma . She has smoked for the past 5 years and increased her smoking to 40 cigarettes a day since she broke up with her intimate friend 3 months ago. She takes an oral contraceptive pill but no other medication.

Although the PBL tutorial is student-centered, major learning objectives are identified in advance by the case writers as part of the overall curriculum design. Tutors may need to provide prompts to ensure that major objectives are identified and pursue d.

In PBL, as knowledge is acquired in the context of a specific clinical problem (the problem is encountered before the student has the knowledge to understand it), it is likely to be better focused and retained.

In the follow-up tutorial, students reconvene to report on their self-directed study and share and integrate new knowledge.

All students should contribute to the report-back and their unique perspectives are incorporated into the process of knowledge building. The exchange and debate of ideas promotes the consolidation and elaboration of new knowledge and understanding